We farted around a bit much to get everything done which we wanted to do in the afternoon. We did go outside and lay bits of wood out to measure this proposed woodshed and calculate dimensions, while K and H helped tidy the yard, and Mr Bat dug our new compost trench, but we had scheduling fail when it came to getting to the tip shop to look for the components of building sheds and chook tractors, etc. We went to Geeveston first, to race into the post office and library while the kids stayed in the car. Then we got most of the way to Franklin before realising that it was probably pointless to go all the way to Margate so late in the day, and really we should have done it the other way around since the Geeveston stops all open later than the tip shop. So we said Poo bugger bum! (or words to that effect) and came home instead.

K entertained herself for a while making things from the busy box and playing with the pattern blocks (including managing to successfully fit tiles into the triangle board), but H was melting down a bit after failing to eat lunch and was generally bouncing off the walls. I read a few books to H and two chapters of Little House on the Prairie to K. After last night’s bedtime meltdowns we aimed to get the kids into bed by around 8, and after I read a few more books to both of them, we had a race to see who could get into pyjamas and tucked into bed first. After that, they were quite happy to stay in bed and Mr Bat sang them a few songs and they went off to sleep with absolutely no dramas at all, which was a huge relief.

Meanwhile, I am really getting into the library catalogue. Since all my carefully sorted seasonal books got unsorted when we moved, I don’t know where half my winter-themed books are, so I went through the catalogue and found a bunch and put them into a wishlist, so I can borrow a couple every week and keep the seasonal focus going (which reminds me, we need to switch the seasonal table over). I also discovered the Weston Woods series of children’s animated story books on DVD, which I think might be nice to borrow now and again (there are various ones posted on YouTube, too).

I also found a link this morning for pattern blocks print-outs, which come in two versions, colour (for younger kids to match the colours as well as shapes) and B&W for a bit more challenge for older kids. Unfortunately I couldn’t print from my machine, but I’ll see if I can get some print-outs tomorrow, and maybe we’ll even have an activity which both of them can do together!